10. Chapter Ten
With a sigh, Katie pushed herself up from her pillow and just sat there in bed. Memories from yesterday filtered through her mind. It had been one of the best days she’d had in a very long time. Maybe even years. Shortly after she and Ethan had played their duet, everyone went outside to sit by the lake while Marshall and Charlie fished from the dock, and the younger kids played in the sand. Katie especially enjoyed watching Ethan interact with his nieces and nephews. They obviously adored him. She had never known that sort of relationship since her mom had been an only child.
But yesterday’s fond memories didn’t relieve the nauseating ache that twisted the pit of her stomach. Monday morning had arrived, which meant she had to see Grandma’s attorney. Had to face her mom and Grant again, as well as the stark reality of Grandma’s passing.
Tears needled her eyes when she reached for her phone and brought up a picture of her and Grandma last summer. A few of the tears leaked out, leaving hot streaks. What would life look like after today?
A text popped up on the screen from Drew, and she rubbed her palm against her cheeks.
I’m praying for you this morning. Let me know how everything goes and when you’re on your way back. I can bring you supper tonight if it gets late.
Katie sniffed. It was sweet of him to text her first thing and offer to get her supper. She typed a quick response.
Thanks. I will.
With a silent plea heavenward, she dragged herself out of bed. She would have to face the day sooner rather than later. She dressed and packed her clothes to be ready to take her suitcase to her car later. The thought of goodbye left a sharp pain in her chest. The last time she’d said goodbye to Ethan, she had not seen or talked to him for fifteen years.
She shook her head. That wouldn’t happen this time. No one could keep her from maintaining her rekindled relationship with the Harts. Whatever it took, she would remain close to them. They were all the family she had left.
Downstairs, she found Ethan, Becca, and their parents in the kitchen as usual. She’d loved waking up to enjoy their company the last few mornings instead of her lonely apartment. What would she do with herself now with no job and not having Grandma to visit with whenever the loneliness set in? It wasn’t like Drew’s schedule had opened up, and she didn’t have any close friends in Madison or anywhere else other than right here in this house.
Her turmoil must have shown on her face because she caught Ethan’s gaze, and concern furrowed his brows as he pulled out a chair for her at the table.
“How are you doing?”
An uncomfortable twinge darted through her middle. “I just want to get it over with.”
She would find no peace until the matter was settled and she knew the outcome.
Despite the Harts’ abundant kindness and understanding during breakfast, Katie found it hard to engage with them. She only took a few bites of the scrambled eggs and toast Evelyn offered, her stomach knotting around the food and threatening to force it back up.
Thankfully, she had an early appointment, so the time didn’t drag out long before she and Ethan headed into the entryway for their shoes.
He glanced at her as he bent to tie the laces on a pair of work boots. “Do you want to take my truck, or were you planning to drive separately and leave from the attorney’s office?”
“No, we can take your truck.” The gut-churning anticipation made her lightheaded, so she probably shouldn’t drive anyway. She’d be tempted to pull over and avoid this meeting altogether.
They walked outside to Ethan’s truck parked alongside her car. The older model extended cab was well-used and exactly what she expected him to drive. He opened the passenger door for her before walking around to the other side. The ride into town passed in silence as Katie tried to prepare herself mentally and not get sick along the way.
Long before she was ready, they pulled up to a small law office one block from Main Street. Fingers cold and clammy, she unbuckled her seatbelt and rubbed her palms on her jeans. Then Ethan reached over to put his hand on her shoulder.
“Everything will be all right.”
Katie sucked a breath and prayed it would be so. She slid out of the truck and scanned the other parking spaces. No black BMW. Was it possible her mom and Grant weren’t called to this meeting? She didn’t dare hope.
Ethan opened the door to the office and let her inside. The middle-aged receptionist greeted them kindly and had them take a seat while they waited. Katie’s knee bounced, and she couldn’t stop her gaze from darting to the door. She almost, almost let a tiny seed of hope take root until it swung open. Her mouth turned to sand as Grant stepped in, followed by her mom and Christopher. Grant’s cool eyes landed heavily on her, pinning her to the chair for a long moment, in which she failed to breathe. Then, his gaze slid over to Ethan. Though he wore a bland expression, a twitch in his brow revealed his displeasure. Katie gulped and glanced at Ethan, who calmly held Grant’s gaze.
With a dismissive lift of his chiseled chin, Grant looked away, putting on all his slick, false charm as he greeted the receptionist. While he was distracted, Katie drew a deep breath to fill her depleted lungs and compose herself. Why did she have to react to him? She shouldn’t. He had no power over her anymore.
Ethan shifted subtly closer to her, and having him near soothed some of her nerves. At least he knew the unspoken struggle taking place.
Mom, Grant, and Christopher took seats directly across from them. Katie met her mom’s eyes a time or two. Mom wore an expression even more pinched and sour than usual, and Katie sensed a chilly undercurrent between them. Beside her, Christopher bounced his knee even more rapidly than Katie as he chewed on his thumbnail, his gaze ranging all over the waiting area. His restless energy only made her more nervous.
Thankfully, they had only a brief wait. In less than five minutes, an office door opened, and Grandma’s attorney of twenty years, Mr. Walden, beckoned them all inside. Grant’s brows dipped more noticeably when Ethan rose to join them.
The office was surprisingly spacious and modern for a small-town law firm. Five chairs sat in front of Mr. Walden’s wide desk. He gestured for them to find a seat, and Ethan gently maneuvered Katie to the far right chair next to the wall while he sat between her and her should-be family as a safety barrier. She sent him a grateful look as she sank down, unsure what she would have done had he not been there. Even a spacious office was far too small to share with her family.
They had barely gotten situated before Grant’s clipped voice chilled the air.
“This is a family matter. I don’t think outsiders should be present.” He practically sneered at Ethan.
Mr. Walden, who’d only just seated himself, peered at Grant over his wire-rimmed glasses. One brow lifted a fraction, though he spoke evenly. “Mr. Hart is a beneficiary of the will and was notified to be here.”
Grant shared a quick, charged look with Mom. After all, whatever Grandma had left for Ethan would leave less for them.
Mr. Walden smoothed his green paisley tie. “I understand these are unpleasant circumstances, so let’s get right to it. I have copies of the will here.”
He distributed them across the desk. Katie hesitated, not wanting to reach for one at the same time as Grant. Ethan, however, took two and handed the extra one to her. She tried to smile in thanks but could only manage a convulsive swallow and a nod.
Mr. Walden didn’t pause long enough for them to read it. “The short of it is this: Mrs. Lachlan bequeathed fifteen thousand dollars each to her daughter, Leah, and her grandson, Christopher.” He nodded to each of them in turn.
Katie caught her mom exhale sharply in disbelief. “Fifteen thousand? That’s it? What of the rest of her estate? I know she had far more than that in her savings. And what of her property?”
Mr. Walden shot her an impatient look. “I am not yet finished.” Mom’s jaw went taut as she must have clenched her teeth, and he continued. “Five thousand is to go to Mr. Hart for his care of her property over the last four years.”
Katie noticed Ethan’s brows shifted subtly upward, but he didn’t respond otherwise. She braced herself for what would come next.
Mr. Walden paused as if even he knew his words would be akin to setting off a bomb in the office. “And finally, the remainder of Mrs. Lachlan’s estate belongs to her granddaughter, Katie.”
A moment of dead silence rang out, and Katie was sure her heart ceased beating. Then, even though they didn’t say anything, Mom and Grant’s reaction was explosive. They looked at each other, mouths open, gearing up for a protest.
Mr. Walden, however, paid them no heed, focusing on Katie. “Since you shared a joint bank account with your grandmother, and she added you to the deed to the property, both automatically reverted to you upon her passing without the need to go through probate.”
Mom slid half out of her chair, her eyes flashing to Katie. “You were on her account?”
Katie gulped. She had lived in fear of the day her mom discovered this particular detail.
Mom shook her head, her voice rising as she spun back to the attorney. “No, this can’t be. I am Ruby’s daughter. I should be the one inheriting her estate.”
“What about me?” Christopher gripped the arms of his chair as if he was about to launch to his feet. His eyes flashed dangerously. “I should get just as much as Katie.”
Mr. Walden eyed both of them, his voice calm but firm. “She made it very clear in her will that this is how her estate is to be divided.”
Mom’s face turned red, and there was no telling what she would have said next if Grant hadn’t rested his hand on her arm. His voice took on a grossly fake tone of regret. “The thing is, Ruby’s mental state really declined near the end.”
Heat burst through Katie. Enough to spawn a surge of boldness she’d never dared use with him. “No, it didn’t. I was with her almost every day for the last four years. She was of perfectly sound mind until the day she died.”
“And you were probably whispering in her ear,” Mom hissed through her teeth.
Grant latched onto this, his voice rising triumphantly. “Sounds to me like undue influence.”
He speared Katie with his icy gaze, and she struggled not to wither underneath it.
“That’s enough,” Mr. Walden cut in, shaking his head as if he were dealing with bratty children. “Mrs. Lachlan wrote her will and put her affairs in order well before her decline in health while she still lived here in Two Lakes. I can attest to her soundness of mind, and as I recall, Katie wasn’t even living in the state. The only alteration Mrs. Lachlan made to her will in the last four years was the addition of Mr. Hart.”
“This can’t be right.” Mom’s voice leaked desperation. Katie just watched her in disbelief. Grandma was dead, yet all Mom cared about was her money. She should be ashamed of herself, but that was the problem. She didn’t seem to possess any such emotion.
“The will is clear. It also contains a no-contest clause, so you’d better have a compelling argument if you wish to contest it. If you lose, you will forfeit the fifteen thousand dollars.”
Mom’s jaw shifted, and her face flushed again. But it wasn’t Grandma’s fault it had come to this. She’d tried to have a loving relationship with her daughter, but Mom had spurned it every step. Katie didn’t know how she could have expected this to turn out differently, but Mom’s selfishness knew no bounds.
Mom and Grant sat in tense silence as Mr. Walden reviewed the remaining paperwork and information, but Katie could still sense the animosity bleeding her way. As soon as they finished, Mr. Walden dismissed them. Mom and Grant each gave Katie a scorching look, and Christopher whined like a child on the way out.
“How come Katie gets everything?”
The door shut, and only then did she feel like she could breathe again. Still, the tension radiating through her muscles did not let up, and her heart beat erratically.
Across the desk, Mr. Walden offered her a sympathetic look. “If I were you, I would get the locks changed on your cottage as soon as possible.”
Katie could only nod, her words stuck on her dried-out tongue.
“And if you have any questions or need any help, I will do my best to assist you. Your grandma wasn’t just a client but also a friend. I’m sorry you have to deal with such unpleasantness on top of her passing.”
Katie had to swallow twice before forcing out a thank you, truly appreciating the offer and how he handled Mom and Grant. Trading goodbyes, she stood, her legs wobbling like she’d just run one of the marathons Drew tried to get her to join. Ethan put his hand on her arm to steady and guide her to the door.
The lobby was empty, but when they stepped outside, Katie found Mom, Grant, and Christopher waiting to pounce. Her stomach wrenched, and she shrank closer to Ethan as Mom marched toward her. In heels, she towered over Katie.
“I expect you to make this right.”
Katie took a deep breath, scraping together the last remnants of her resolve. “There is nothing to make right.”
“I am your mother. I was raised in that cottage. It rightfully belongs to me.”
“Grandma saw it differently.”
Mom’s eyes blazed. Had they been alone, Katie was sure she would have slapped her. Grant barreled up beside Mom, and Katie recoiled, old memories springing to life. She almost lifted her hands to shield herself, but Ethan stepped between them.
“Back off.” His voice rang with warning.
Katie peeked around him to find Ethan being scorched with the full force of Grant’s glare.
Grant leaned forward just slightly, employing every one of his intimidation tactics. “This does not concern you. Walk away and mind your own business.”
Ethan didn’t so much as flinch. “I’m not going anywhere. Ruby’s will was very clear. Accept it and move on. And if you want to keep harassing Katie, I’m more than happy to call the sheriff down here to see what he says.”
A muscle twitched in Grant’s jaw. He battled Ethan for a few more seconds with his eyes before turning to Mom, his voice brittle. “Let’s go.”
They stalked toward their car. Just before he got in, Grant sent Katie a look that froze her blood. It promised she hadn’t heard the end of this.
When they finally drove off, Katie sagged, her knees nearly buckling. Ethan ushered her toward his truck and opened the door. She climbed in, cold threading through her limbs. Her hands trembled, and it spread to her entire body. The hum of her racing heart buzzed in her ears, and she gulped for breath, not seeming to get enough air.
“Are you all right?” Ethan’s voice sounded muffled.
She shook her head jerkily but couldn’t form words. Tears followed, and she shook as if caught in a blizzard. Reaching into the cab, Ethan rested his hand against her cheek, bringing her gaze to him. He looked her in the eyes.
“Listen to me. I won’t let him hurt you this time. Okay?”
His sure voice and the connection of his touch helped ground her, and she dragged in a strangled breath to calm herself.